Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner’s new CEO, won’t immediately “unlock value” through any asset divestiture, according to a report by UBC analyst Michael Morris. Such a strategic move, which is more likely next year, might not add much value anyway, Morris argues. (http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/analyst-dampens-time-warner-deal-speculation  1/2)

Time Warner Inc (NYSE)

The Writers Guild of America says it will picket the Golden Globe Awards, rejecting a call by the show’s owners to let a scripted show air on Jan. 13 without protests. The Golden Globes will likely struggle to attract Hollywood stars, since many actors won’t cross the picket line. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=atlwsTvrhUtw  1/2)

Television’s late-night comedy kings returned to the air Wednesday after a forced two-month hiatus, expressing support for the striking writers even though several of the hosts crossed the picket line to resume their shows. “I’m on the side of the writers,” declared Jay Leno. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-strike3jan03,1,4573698.story?ctrack=1&cset=true  1/3)

On Conan O’Brien’s first show post-strike last night, he spoke about the writers’ strike and that thing growing on his face, which is supposedly there to show allegiance with the writers.  Now, I’m not a writer, but going I’m going to go out on a limb anyway.  Conan, show some allegiance with something that looks mildly attractive.  A new tie perhaps?!  Anything.  Just please, for the love of late night, shave that insidious thing off your face.

Conan O’Brien Show Jan

The Nickelodeon series “Zoey 101,” which stars Britney Spears’ pregnant little sister, is being axed, according to a show source. Jamie Lynn, 16, plays the lead in the teen drama, which is aimed at kids aged 9 to 14. “It looks like it has been canned,” the source says. (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article643480.ece  1/3)

The Weather Channel, one of the last privately owned cable channels, is being put up for sale and could fetch more than $5 billion. The channel and its rapidly growing Web site, weather.com, are already attracting interest from NBC, News Corp. and Comcast. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/business/media/03weather.html?_r=1&oref=slogin  1/3) 

Just when you thought the country had seen it all from Tila Tequila and her seemingly endless quest for love, MTV announced it would bring back the MySpace pinup for another season. Season 2 of “A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila” is expected to debut sometime this spring. (Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)/Associated Press 1/2)

E! has approved a second season for late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately.” The show, which features stand-up comedian Chelsea Handler, premiered July 16 and has seen its ratings rise 23% since then. (Variety 1/2)

Lifetime today was scheduled to kick-start its biggest promotional campaign ever for new reality series “How To Look Good Naked” with a parade of 160 women, clad in bathrobes sporting the show’s logo, appearing on New York subways and buses and marching through the streets. The multiplatform push also includes print ads, TV and cable spots, radio and online elements. (Multichannel News 1/2)